The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-05-14
BANQUET TO JEFF.
He Is Toasted and Tonated by Some OF Ills
.# ..Ir, Admirers. ...HH.

NEw ORLEANS, May l3.-A special from
Meridian, Mics, says: At11 o'clock yes
tsrday morning, public reception wa.
given TO Mr.. Jefferson Davis at tho resi-
donce Of Col. ]. R. Mcintosh, with whom
he Ia stopping. For two hours perfect
stream Of people psRsel through the par.
lors and shook hands with tho ex.Chief.
tain and his beautiful daughter. Mr..
Davis weB In his beat humor, and had q
pleasant word for each one that shook his
hand. TEa 5m r,T1I.II7
AT 8 o'clock last evening a banquet and
reception Was given in the court house
grounds. Mr.. Davis made short address,
n which he thanked the people OF Meri.
dim for their cordial reception. At this
point members Of the Press Association
ascended the platform In a body and pre-.
eented their respects 10 him.
AT the banquet there were 800 platea,
and seated at the tables were the most
distinguished men Of the State. A floral
wreath WA brought in, aud Mr.. L. H.
Dial presented 1t to Mr.. Davis In tho name
Of tho women Of Merriam. Mr.. Davis, In
accepting 1t, said: r&
"God has graced the South with beau.
hful flowers and lovely women. The
more blessed OF women are those OF our
own South land, with snch feeling ex.
pressions, tho beautiful flowers which were
arranged 30 beautifilly'by lovinehands
are more beautiful than anything that has
been given no."
The aecond tosst was 10 Jefferson
Davis, the Soldier, Statesman and Cham.
pion OF Southern Right" 1t was respont-
cd to by Hon. Thomas II. Woods.
When Mr.. Davis rose to reply he was
greeted with long.con.inued applause. He
began by apologizing for the short ad-
dress he would make them, and said that
he was quite fatieusd from tho days ex-
erciscs. Continuing, he said:
II am unable 10 treat this theme as 1t
should be without premeditnton. What
was the army and navy Of the South? It
was the patsiotiom OF persons who barred
their breea's to bullets in defending
constitutional right. With great n,yies
and armies sgainat us, We formed regi-
mensB aud bsttaliopa. At their head We
placed Lee az their commander. We re-
member the scsnee when the wife threw
her Grms around her husband, and tho
daughters in loving embrace gathering
sround those who were to 90, and then
the widowed mother, ss shc let the tear
drops fall on tho face Of devoted son she
would never see again and girdled his
s~o.d to his waistand told him to 70 forth
as his father would have done.
Those were the kind Of men We had.
With inferior numbers Of men we march.
cd onward fighting for our rights, and bat.
Tie after battle was fought and won, but
the Northern historians never conceded
that, and INDUCED in triumphs of mind
over matter. But now these scenes and
Incidents have paaaed and they only live
in minds and history. United yon are
now, and il the Union ia ever to be broken
lot the other side do it. The army Of the
South will Rhine forever around the camp
free, and will still shine to our children
and children's children. The truths We
fought for shall never encourage you to
fight again; but keep your word in good
or evil. God bless you ALL"